Mini Eggnog Spice Cake with Creamy Dreamy Frosting

I was in fourth grade when the Spice Girls hit the scene. My friend Jackie got their album for Christmas, and we’d dance around the house to it, wearing crazy outfits and hairdos. (One of the songs was called “Naked.” Jackie’s mom made sure we always skipped over it!)

Initially, I’d aimed to make a maple version of the bars. However, the first attempt lacked any maple flavor whatsoever, and so I decided to make spice bars instead. In reaching for a new baking dish (for attempt #2), I happened upon a mini springform pan. And thus, this little spice cake was born. As I tried to think of a name, I kept going back to the fact that it’s a baby spice cake—just like the singer! (For those of you who weren’t teens in the 90s, that would be Emma Bunton, also known as “Baby Spice.”)

Many of you will appreciate that this recipe is fat-free.

I didn’t actually set out to make it that way. But the batter looked too gooey, after I put in all the applesauce, to add any more liquid. Luckily, this doesn’t taste fat-free (especially when it’s frosted). But you can always replace some of the applesauce with oil if you so desire.

Combine dry ingredients and mix very well. In a separate bowl, mix wet ingredients (including applesauce), then pour dry into wet. Stir until just combined, then pour into a greased pan (I used a mini springform, but a 4×7 would also work), and cook at 350 F for 20-25 minutes, depending on the depth of your dish. Allow to cool for 10 minutes before removing the springform.

Or you could always opt to pay tribute to the UK, home of the Spice Girls, and top this cake with Marmite. But I wouldn’t recommend that. No, not at all!

Question of the Day:

What singers or bands were popular when you were growing up?

I was a teen in the 90s, so groups like Blink 182, N’Sync, and the Backstreet Boys played at my middle-school dances. Oh, and Britney Spears, Hanson, and the Spice Girls.

I never got caught up in the Hanson craze, but a few of the girls in my class wanted to marry those boys! And my friend Robin actually bought the Spice Girls movie. (One of only three copies sold?) She made me watch it with her; as expected, it was awful! Aliens abducting the main characters? Really?? Someone thought that was a good idea?

the spice girls movie actually didn’t do too bad I don’t think. It certainly wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be. I too watched it because of my best friend, though it was my dad who bought it … for himself.

I remember that movie! I think I actually loved it, but I guess I was a bit younger than you and maybe thought the whole alien thing was a clever idea? Who knows… but I love all that music, such good memories! I also loved BeWitched, Alanis Morrisette (still love her!), Third Eye Blind…

Idea for maple flavor: Grade B maple syrup is WAY more flavorful, and Ive found that the taste has more staying power in baked goods of all sorts! I dont know which kind you tried, but people usually go for Grade A because they think of it as higher quality: false!!! Its super yummy!

Band I listened to growing up? Pete Seeger and Ace of Base My mother was a complete old hippy…..but indulged my need for mindlessly positive pseudo-techno! I still listen to, and love, both artists today!
(my sister was the Spice Girls fan though, so I heard a fair bit of them too)

This looks delightful!
The spice girls were big for me too–I remember watching spice world at my very first slumber party! I believe it was in second grade? Maybe third or fourth?
And, in addition to all those that you mentioned, Christina Aguilera and Destiny’s Child were big for me!

I just tried to make whipped topping yesterday and it worked quite well. Recipe is simple:

Ingredients:
1 cup chilled milk or milk replacement (I want to try it out with juice though, it seems like something that will work)
1 tsp of guar gum (or xanthan gum, but guar gum is cheaper)
1.5 tbsp sugar (I omitted because the soy milk I used was already sweetened)

Directions:
Put all ingredients in a bowl and WHIP IT. Start out with medium speed for 2 min and high speed for 5-6 mins until you reach the consistency you want. I used a kitchenaid mixer… it worked quite well.

I read somewhere the recipe was originally for vitamix, so I assume it’ll work for the vitamix or any super powerful blender. I don’t have one, but it worked well with a mixer. I wouldn’t dare do it by hand…

Also, a tip… It may work better if the bowl and whip were chilled as well. Just keep everything cold!

Oh, wow; I haven’t seen the Spice Girls movie in ages! I think I was in third or fourth grade when they came out. I used to love them the Backstreet Boys, Destiny’s Child, Christina Aguilera, Janet Jackson, TLC… a whole lot of everything.

Yep, Nsync was pretty popular but none of the girls my age got into the whole boy band thing…. I think we were always listening to songs from about three years earlier. Nothing too good was out when I was in jr high.

I was a teen in the 90’s, although the groups you mentioned were big when I was in high school. And a friend and I actually went to see the Spice Girls movie in the theater. Oh wow, did it suck. Proved that you could like the group, but that the movie truly did suck.

Hi Katie! I am obsessed with your blog. So far, I’ve made the blondies, the cookie dough dip, the fudge, and the whipped cream (all in about a week!), and they’ve turned out awesome. Do you have any ideas for a vegan christmas dinner?